Sometimes recovery does not eliminate the ego; it upskills it.
The unskilled ego:
'My boss doesn't appreciate me.'
'If only I could find true love I wouldn't drink so much.'
'I can't stand Bobby. He's really mean to me.'
'I look fat / old / ugly.'
'I can't live without him.'
The upskilled ego:
'My family of origin was toxic.'
'My husband is narcissistic.'
'My son is a gaming addict.'
'My oldest friend is not emotionally available to me.'
'That triggered my trauma.'
'I don't have to accept unacceptable behaviour.'
'I've found my voice.'
'I told him how his behaviour made me feel.'
'I treat other people like they're sick.'
'I'm at the top of my amends list.'
'I have to be good to myself.'
'I've learned to go easy on myself.'
'I can't love anyone else until I love myself.'
'I have to get my needs met.'
'Recovery is not a race.'
'Everything in God's time.'
'It's important to find balance.'
'I must not get addicted to recovery.'
'AA is spiritual kindergarten.'
'I'm powerless over people, places, and things.'
'Life doesn't stop happening just because I'm sober.'
'Recovery has enabled me to pursue my dreams.'
'I've got my job back; I've got my family back.'
'Today, thanks to the Steps, I have a big life.'
'There's no right or wrong.'
'I've learned there's healthy fear and unhealthy fear.'
'I'm absolutely fine just the way I am.'
'My biggest character defect is perfectionism.'
'If I have a bad day, it's not because I have a bad programme.'
And, the crowning audacity of:
'It's a selfish programme.'